Bow

ABSTRACT

A bow includes a handle and upper and lower limbs. The upper and lower limbs are formed of a laminated fiber-reinforced plastic material. The upper limb has first and second sets of fiber sheets stacked in a direction along a lateral axis. The first set of fiber sheets have fibers aligned at a first angle from a longitudinal axis, and the second set of fiber sheets having fibers aligned at a second angle from the longitudinal axis in an opposite direction. The lower limb has third and fourth sets of fiber sheets stacked in a direction along the lateral axis. The third set of fiber sheets have parallel fibers aligned at a third angle from the longitudinal axis, and the fourth set of fiber sheets having fibers aligned at a fourth angle from the longitudinal axis in an opposite direction. The angles are between 16 and 44 degrees.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 62/785,547, filed Dec. 27, 2018, the contents of which are expresslyincorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present invention relates in general to a bow, and moreparticularly, to bow having upper and lower bow limbs formed of a fiberreinforced material.

2. Related Art

A bow consists of a semi-rigid but elastic arc with a high-tensilemodulus bowstring joining the ends of the two bow limbs of the bow.Archery bows typically have a rigid stationary handle and flexible bowlimbs that bend when the bow is drawn. There are many different types ofbows which include but not limited to recurve bows, long bows, compoundbows, lever bows and crossbows. The bowstring that is attached to theflexible limbs is drawn back to deform the limbs storing potentialenergy. When the bowstring is released, the limbs act like springs andreturn the bowstring back to its undrawn position.

Bow limbs are constructed out of one material or several, as in acomposite. Different types of materials for bow limbs can vary frommanufacturer to manufacture. The types of materials used in bow limbconstruction include but not limited to metal, fiberglass, carbon fiberand wood. Using the previous listed materials, bow limbs can be built orformed of solid monolithic or sandwich method consisting of two oppositeface-sheets with a core in between.

All previous methods and types of constructive bow limbs generatepotential energy when an archer draws back the bow. Potential energy isthe calculated area under the measured force draw curve of the bow. Theforce draw curve of the bow is created by measuring per inch of drawingthe bowstring the force required. Increasing the potential energy willincrease the kinetic energy of the released arrow from bow. There havebeen many advancements on the construction of a bow that has a higherpotential energy input which include but not limited to bow limb shapeand a mechanical cam attached to each bow limbs. Modern day bowyers facethe challenge of how to increase the potential energy input in a bowlimb so that there is more output of kinetic energy.

In view of the foregoing, there is a need in the art for an improved bowdesign.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a bow. Thebow includes an elongate handle defining a longitudinal axis, a lateralaxis, and a transverse axis. The longitudinal axis and the lateral axisdefine a bow plane. The handle defines a bow front side and an opposingbow rear side. The handle has an upper handle portion and a lower handleportion. The bow further includes an upper limb having an upper limbtip, an upper limb base and an upper limb body disposed between theupper limb tip and the upper limb base. The upper limb extends from thehandle with the upper limb base attached to the upper handle portionwithin the bow plane. The upper limb is formed of a laminatedfiber-reinforced plastic material having first and second sets of fibersheets stacked in a direction along the lateral axis. The first set offiber sheets has parallel fibers aligned at a first angle from thelongitudinal axis in a direction toward the transverse axis on a firstside of the bow plane. The second set of fiber sheets has parallelfibers aligned at a second angle from the longitudinal axis in adirection toward the transverse axis on a second side of the bow plane.The first and second angles are between 16 and 44 degrees. The bowfurther includes a lower limb has a lower limb tip, a lower limb baseand a lower limb body disposed between the lower limb tip and the lowerlimb base. The lower limb extends from the handle opposite the upperlimb with the lower limb base attached to the lower handle portionwithin the bow plane. The lower limb is formed of a laminatedfiber-reinforced plastic material having third and fourth sets of fibersheets stacked in a direction along the lateral axis. The third set offiber sheets has parallel fibers aligned at a third angle from thelongitudinal axis in a direction toward the transverse axis on the firstside of the bow plane. The fourth set of fiber sheets has parallelfibers aligned at a fourth angle from the longitudinal axis in adirection toward the transverse axis on the second side of the bowplane. The third and fourth angles are between 16 and 44 degrees.

According to various embodiments, the upper limb body may have aPoison's ratio of greater than 0.75 and the lower limb body may have aPoison's ratio of greater than 0.75. The bow may further include abowstring extending between the upper limb tip and the lower limb tip.The bowstring has a center portion intersecting the lateral axis. Thebowstring is straight adjacent the center portion with the bow in anundrawn configuration. In a full drawn configuration the center portionis positioned along the lateral axis away from the position of thecenter portion in the undrawn configuration. In the full drawnconfiguration the upper and lower limbs may be flexed in a directionalong the lateral axis in the bow plane away from the bow front side ofthe handle, and in the full drawn configuration the upper limb and lowerlimb may be in tension along the bow front side and in compression alongthe bow rear side. The upper limb body adjacent the upper handle portionat the bow front side may be anticlastic in the strung to full drawnconfiguration, and the lower limb body adjacent the lower handle portionat the bow front side may be anticlastic in the strung to full drawnconfiguration. The first and second angles may be between 20 and 27degrees, and the third and fourth angles may be between 20 and 27degrees. The first and second angles may be the same, and the third andfourth angles may be the same. The first, second, third and fourthangles all may be the same.

According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided abow. The bow includes an elongate handle defining a defining alongitudinal axis, a lateral axis, and a transverse axis. Thelongitudinal axis and the lateral axis define a bow plane. The handledefines a bow front side and an opposing bow rear side. The handle hasan upper handle portion and a lower handle portion. The bow furtherincludes an upper limb having an upper limb tip, an upper limb base andan upper limb body disposed between the upper limb tip and the upperlimb base. The upper limb extends from the handle with the upper limbbase attached to the upper handle portion within the bow plane. Theupper limb is formed of a laminated fiber-reinforced plastic materialhaving first and second sets of fiber sheets stacked in a directionalong the lateral axis. The first set of fiber sheets has parallelfibers aligned at a first angle from the longitudinal axis in adirection toward the transverse axis on a first side of the bow plane.The second set of fiber sheets has parallel fibers aligned at a secondangle from the longitudinal axis in a direction toward the transverseaxis on a second side of the bow plane. The upper limb body has aPoison's ratio of greater than 0.75. The bow further includes a lowerlimb has a lower limb tip, a lower limb base and a lower limb bodydisposed between the lower limb tip and the lower limb base. The lowerlimb extends from the handle opposite the upper limb with the lower limbbase attached to the lower handle portion within the bow plane. Thelower limb is formed of a laminated fiber-reinforced plastic materialhaving third and fourth sets of fiber sheets stacked in a directionalong the lateral axis. The third set of fiber sheets has parallelfibers aligned at a third angle from the longitudinal axis in adirection toward the transverse axis on the first side of the bow plane.The fourth set of fiber sheets has parallel fibers aligned at a fourthangle from the longitudinal axis in a direction toward the transverseaxis on the second side of the bow plane. The lower limb body has aPoison's ratio of greater than 0.75.

According to various embodiments, the first and second angles may bebetween 16 and 44 degrees, and the third and fourth angles may bebetween 16 and 44 degrees. The bow may further include a bowstringextending between the upper limb tip and the lower limb tip. Thebowstring has a center portion intersecting the lateral axis. Thebowstring is straight adjacent the center portion with the bow in anundrawn configuration. In a full drawn configuration the center portionis positioned along the lateral axis away from the position of thecenter portion in the undrawn configuration. In the full drawnconfiguration the upper and lower limbs may be flexed in a directionalong the lateral axis in the bow plane away from the bow front side ofthe handle, and in the full drawn configuration the upper and lower limbmay be in tension along the bow front side and in compression along thebow rear side. The upper limb body adjacent the upper handle portion atthe bow front side may be anticlastic in the strung to full drawnconfiguration, and the lower limb body adjacent the lower handle portionat the bow front side may be anticlastic in the strung to full drawnconfiguration. The first and second angles may be between 20 and 27degrees, and the third and fourth angles may be between 20 and 27degrees. The first and second angles may be the same, and the third andfourth angles may be the same. The first, second, third and fourthangles all may be the same.

The present invention will be best understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the various embodimentsdisclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the followingdescription and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like partsthroughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a bow of an embodiment of the present inventionin an unstrung configuration with the bow in a strung configuration(drawn in phantom lining) and in a drawn configuration (drawn in phantomlining);

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an upper limb of thebow in an unstrung configuration of FIG. 1 as viewed along axis 2-2;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the bow of FIG. 1 in a strung configurationwith a bowstring with the bow in an unstrung configuration (drawn inphantom lining) and in a drawn configuration (drawn in phantom lining);

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the upper limb of thebow in a strung configuration of FIG. 3 as viewed along axis 4-4;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the bow of FIG. 3 in a drawn configuration withthe bow in an unstrung configuration (drawn in phantom lining) and in astrung configuration (drawn in phantom lining);

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the upper limb of thebow in a full drawn configuration of FIG. 5 as viewed along axis 6-6;

FIG. 7 is a symbolic front view of the upper limb with fiber anglesindicated relative to a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis of thebow;

FIG. 8 is a symbolic front view of the upper limb similar to FIG. 8 butwith different fiber angles;

FIG. 9 is a symbolic view of first and second sets of fiber sheetsincluding parallel fibers in each of the sheets at various fiber anglesrelative to the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis of the bow ofthe upper limb;

FIG. 10 is a symbolic view of first and second sets of fiber sheetsincluding parallel fibers in each of the sheets at various fiber anglesrelative to the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis of the bow ofa lower limb; and

FIG. 11 is an exemplary force draw curve comparison chart.

Common reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and thedetailed description to indicate the same elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of certain embodiments of anundermount drawer slide and related method of forming the same, and isnot intended to represent the only forms that may be developed orutilized. The description sets forth the various structure and/orfunctions in connection with the illustrated embodiments, but it is tobe understood, however, that the same or equivalent structure and/orfunctions may be accomplished by different embodiments that are alsointended to be encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure.It is further understood that the use of relational terms such as firstand second, and the like are used solely to distinguish one entity fromanother without necessarily requiring or implying any actual suchrelationship or order between such entities.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a bow 10.FIG. 1 is a side view of the bow of an embodiment of the presentinvention in an unstrung configuration with the bow 10 in a strungconfiguration (drawn in phantom lining, denoted as 10″) and in a drawnconfiguration (drawn in phantom lining, denoted as 10′″). FIG. 2 is across-sectional view of a portion of an upper limb 28 of the bow 10 ofFIG. 1 as viewed along axis 2-2. FIG. 3 is a side view of the bow 10 ofFIG. 1 in a strung configuration with a bowstring 60 with the bow 10 inan unstrung configuration (drawn in phantom lining, denoted as 10′) andin a drawn configuration (drawn in phantom lining, denoted as 10′″).FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the upper limb 28 ofthe bow 10 of FIG. 3 as viewed along axis 4-4. FIG. 5 is a side view ofthe bow 10 of FIG. 3 in a drawn configuration with the bow 10 in anunstrung configuration (drawn in phantom lining, denoted 10′) and in astrung configuration (drawn in phantom lining, denoted 10″). FIG. 6 is across-sectional view of a portion of the upper limb 28 of the bow 10 ofFIG. 5 as viewed along axis 6-6.

The bow 10 includes an elongate handle 12 defining a defining alongitudinal axis 14, a lateral axis 16, and a transverse axis 18. Thelongitudinal axis 14 and the lateral axis 16 define a bow plane. Thehandle 12 defines a bow front side 20 and an opposing bow rear side 22.The handle 12 has an upper handle portion 24 and a lower handle portion26. The bow 10 further includes the upper limb 28 having an upper limbtip 30, an upper limb base 32 and an upper limb body 34 disposed betweenthe upper limb tip 30 and the upper limb base 32. The upper limb 28extends from the handle 12 with the upper limb base 32 attached to theupper handle portion 24 within the bow plane.

The upper limb 28 is formed of a laminated fiber-reinforced plasticmaterial having first and second sets of fiber sheets 36, 38 stacked ina direction along the lateral axis 16. The first set of fiber sheets 36has parallel fibers 40 aligned at a first angle θ from the longitudinalaxis 14 in a direction toward the transverse axis 18 on a first side 64of the bow plane. The second set of fiber sheets 38 has parallel fibers42 aligned at a second angle θ′ from the longitudinal axis 14 in adirection toward the transverse axis 18 on a second side 66 of the bowplane. The first and second angles θ, θ′ are between 16 and 44 degrees

The bow 10 further includes a lower limb 44 has a lower limb tip 46, alower limb base 48 and a lower limb body 50 disposed between the lowerlimb tip 46 and the lower limb base 48. The lower limb 44 extends fromthe handle 12 opposite the upper limb 28 with the lower limb base 48attached to the lower handle portion 26 within the bow plane.

The lower limb 44 is formed of a laminated fiber-reinforced plasticmaterial having third and fourth sets of fiber sheets 52, 54 stacked ina direction along the lateral axis 16. The third set of fiber sheets 52has parallel fibers 56 aligned at a third angle θ″ from the longitudinalaxis 14 in a direction toward the transverse axis 18 on the first side64 of the bow plane. The fourth set of fiber sheets 54 has parallelfibers 58 aligned at a fourth angle θ′″ from the longitudinal axis 14 ina direction toward the transverse axis 18 on the second side 66 of thebow plane. The third and fourth angles θ″, θ′″ are between 16 and 44degrees.

It is contemplated that such fiber angulation results in the upper andlower limbs 28, 44 being anticlastic in nature. In this regard, theshape of the bow front side 20 at upper limb body has a convex curvaturewith respect to the lateral axis 16 and the transverse axis 18 and has aconvex curvature with respect to the longitudinal axis 14 and thelateral axis 16. Referring additionally to FIG. 7, there is depicted asymbolic front view of the upper limb 24 with fiber angles, the firstand second angles θ, θ′ of about 16 degrees as indicated relative to alongitudinal axis 14 and a transverse axis 18 of the bow 10. FIG. 8 is asymbolic front view of the upper limb similar to FIG. 8 but withdifferent fiber angles, the first and second angles θ, θ′ of about 44degrees. FIG. 9 is a symbolic view of the first and second sets of fibersheets 36, 38 including the first and second fibers 40, 42. FIG. 10 is asymbolic view of the third and fourth sets of fiber sheets 52, 54including the third and fourth fibers 56, 58.

The bow 10 may further include the bowstring 60 extending between theupper limb tip 30 and the lower limb tip 46. The bowstring 64 has acenter portion 62 intersecting the lateral axis 16. The bowstring 60 isstraight adjacent the center portion 62 with the bow 10 in a stung andundrawn configuration as depicted in FIG. 3. With the bowstring 60 stungbut with and no external force by archer is applied to bowstring 60, thebow 10 is considered at brace.

As depicted in FIG. 5, in a full drawn configuration the center portion62 is positioned along the lateral axis 16 away from the position of thecenter portion 62 in the undrawn configuration. The center portion 62 isthe location of the bowstring 60 where an archer would temporarilyengage an arrow during use. In the full drawn configuration the upperand lower limbs 28, 44 may be flexed in a direction along the lateralaxis 16 in the bow plane away from the bow front side 20 of the handle12. In the full drawn configuration the archer has reached full draw andmaximum forces, moments and torque is applied to the upper and lowerlimbs 28, 44. In the full drawn configuration the upper limb 28 may bein tension along the bow front side 20 and the lower limb 44 is incompression along the bow rear side 22. The upper limb body 34 adjacentthe upper handle portion 24 at the bow front side 20 may be anticlasticin the full drawn configuration, and the lower limb body 50 adjacent thelower handle portion 26 at the bow front side 20 may be anticlastic inthe full drawn configuration.

An aspect of the present invention pertains to the recognition thatadvancing the bow limb mechanical property Poisson's ratio to achieve adynamic anticlastic curvature of the upper and lower limbs 28, 44 duringbending. Poisson's ratio is a measure of the Poisson effect, thephenomenon in which a material tends to expand in directionsperpendicular to the direction of compression. Conversely, if thematerial is stretched rather than compressed, it usually tends tocontract in the directions transverse to the direction of stretching.When the upper and lower limbs 28, 44 are bending, the side of the limbfacing the archer is in compression (the bow rear side 22) and theopposite side (the bow front side 20) is in tension. Due to the Poissoneffect of the upper and lower limbs 28, 44 in bending, as thecompression side is compressed it expands perpendicularly and thetension side contracts perpendicularly causing the compression side toconvex and tension to concave. This curvature perpendicular to thebending of upper and lower limbs 28, 44 is referred to herein as havingan anticlastic curvature. The greater the Poisson's ratio the greaterthe anticlastic curvature. According to an embodiment, the upper limbbody 34 may have a Poison's ratio of greater than 0.75 and the lowerlimb body 50 may have a Poison's ratio of greater than 0.75.

Another aspect of the present invention pertains to the recognition thatorienting the fibers 40, 42, 56, 58 as discussed above may be used toadvance the bow limb mechanical property Poisson's ratio to achieve adynamic anticlastic curvature of the upper and lower limbs 28, 44. It iscontemplated that lower Poisson's ratio results in less anticlasticcurvature which results in lower increase in dynamic flexural stiffnessof the upper and lower limbs 28, 44. A result of lower increase indynamic flexural stiffness results in less potential energy in the bow10 and correspondingly less kinetic energy of arrow when the bowstring60 is released.

An ultra-high Poisson's ratio greatly increases the anticlasticbehavior, which in turn increases the bow limb flexural stiffness as bow10 is drawn. The increase in the bow flexural stiffness increases thepotential energy in the bow 10 and yields more kinetic energy of anarrow when it is released from the bow 10. A bow limb with ultra-high,greater than Poisson's Ratio of 0.75, anticlastic curvature will greatlyincrease the dynamic flexural stiffness of the bow limb and in turnincrease the potential energy of the bow limb. The increase in potentialenergy will increase the kinetic energy of the arrow when bowstring isreleased. It is contemplated that prior art bows are characterized ashaving bow limbs with a Poisson's ratio of 0.3 to 0.75. As such thepresent invention is a significant improvement over the prior art.Having an ultra-high Poisson's Ratio greatly increases the anticlasticbehavior. This in turn increases the bow limbs flexural stiffness in arate dependent of the amount of bow is drawn. Ultra-high Poisson's Ratiogreatly increases the anticlastic behavior, which in turn increases thebow limb flexural stiffness as bow is drawn. The increase in the bowsflexural stiffness increases the potential energy in the bow and yieldsmore kinetic energy of the arrow when it is released from the bow.

As mentioned above, the first, second, third and fourth angles θ, θ′,θ″, θ′″ may be between 16 and 44 degrees. However, more specifically thefirst and second angles θ, θ′ may be between 20 and 27 degrees, and thethird and fourth angles θ″, θ′″ may be between 20 and 27 degrees. Suchangles are contemplated to result in a high anticlastic shape. Inaddition, it is contemplated that the first and second angles θ, θ40 aremay be the same, and the third and fourth angles θ″, θ′″ are may be thesame. The first, second, third and fourth angles θ, θ′, θ″, θ′″ , allmay be the same.

During use, an archer grips the bow 10 by the handle 12, draws bowstring60 which is attached to ultra-high anticlastic upper and lower limbs 28,44 at the center portion 62 (the bowstring 60 attach point of an arrow),from brace or the strung configuration as depicted in FIG. 3 to a fulldrawn configuration as depicted in FIG. 5. During this draw motion andthe upper and lower limbs 24, 44 are flexed the geometric cross sectionof ultra-high anticlastic upper and lower limbs changes as depicted inFIGS. 4 and 6. During use an archer draws bow 10 back to full draw withan arrow attached or engaged with the bowstring 60, storing thepotential energy into the upper and lower limbs 24, 44, and thenreleases the bowstring 60 and launching the arrow.

As mentioned above, the upper limb 28 is formed of a laminatedfiber-reinforced plastic material having first and second sets of fibersheets 36, 38 stacked in a direction along the lateral axis 16.Likewise, the lower limb 44 is formed of a laminated fiber-reinforcedplastic material having third and fourth sets of fiber sheets 52, 54stacked in a direction along the lateral axis 16. Such material iscontemplated particularly utilize reinforcing fibers that may begenerally aligned along a desired direction. Such fibers may be carbonfor example and may be chosen from any of those which are well known toone of ordinary skill in the art. FIG. 9 is a symbolic view of the firstand second sets of fiber sheets 36, 38 including the first and secondfibers 40, 42. FIG. 10 is a symbolic view of the third and fourth setsof fiber sheets 52, 54 including the third and fourth fibers 56, 58. Thesymbolic views of FIGS. 9 and 10 depict only two sheets each of thevarious sheets 36, 38, 52, 54, in practice there bow 10 would include aplurality of sheets of various quantity and thicknesses. Further whilethe various sheets 36, 38, 52, 54 are depicted on only having fibers ina single direction (unidirectional), additional fibers at other anglesmay be included, and such sheets may include fibers in multipledirections (such as bi-directional with the fiber directions at equalbut opposite 90 degrees to each other). The particular plastic materialused for the various sheets 36, 38, 52, 54 may be various types ofresins and may be chosen from and formed according to any of thosetechniques which are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Referring now to FIG. 11 there is depicted an exemplary force draw curvecomparison chart. The chart plots draw force versus draw. The draw isthe distance of the center portion 62 of the bowstring along thetransverse axis 18. The draw force is the amount of force required tomove the center portion 62 to various positions along the transverseaxis 18 during the drawing of the bow 10. The indicated draw force isnormalized in this chart. Four curves are depicted, a straight-linelinear spring, a non-linear spring (both for reference), a prior art orprevious recurve bow limbs, and ultra high anticlastic bow limbs, suchas associated with the bow 10 of the present invention. As is understoodfrom the relatively high draw force, the non-linear increase of upperand lower limb flexural stiffness due to upper and lower limb geometriccross section shape changing as bowstring 60 is drawn back greatlyincreases the potential energy in the upper and lower limbs 28, 44 at arate higher than prior art bow limbs without ultra-high anticlasticbehavior.

The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation.Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devisevariations that are within the scope and spirit of the inventiondisclosed herein. Further, the various features of the embodimentsdisclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with eachother and are not intended to be limited to the specific combinationdescribed herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited bythe illustrated embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A bow comprising: An elongate handle defining adefining a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, and a transverse axis, thelongitudinal axis and the lateral axis defining a bow plane, the handledefining a bow front side and an opposing bow rear side, the handlehaving an upper handle portion and a lower handle portion; an upper limbhaving an upper limb tip, an upper limb base and an upper limb bodydisposed between the upper limb tip and the upper limb base, the upperlimb extending from the handle with the upper limb base attached to theupper handle portion within the bow plane, the upper limb being formedof a laminated fiber-reinforced plastic material having first and secondsets of fiber sheets stacked in a direction along the lateral axis, thefirst set of fiber sheets having parallel fibers aligned at a firstangle from the longitudinal axis in a direction toward the transverseaxis on a first side of the bow plane, the second set of fiber sheetshaving parallel fibers aligned at a second angle from the longitudinalaxis in a direction toward the transverse axis on a second side of thebow plane, the first and second angles being between 16 and 44 degrees;and a lower limb having a lower limb tip, a lower limb base and a lowerlimb body disposed between the lower limb tip and the lower limb base,the lower limb extending from the handle opposite the upper limb withthe lower limb base attached to the lower handle portion within the bowplane, the lower limb being formed of a laminated fiber-reinforcedplastic material having third and fourth sets of fiber sheets stacked ina direction along the lateral axis, the third set of fiber sheets havingparallel fibers aligned at a third angle from the longitudinal axis in adirection toward the transverse axis on the first side of the bow plane,the fourth set of fiber sheets having parallel fibers aligned at afourth angle from the longitudinal axis in a direction toward thetransverse axis on the second side of the bow plane, the third andfourth angles being between 16 and 44 degrees.
 2. The bow of claim 1wherein the upper limb body has a Poison's ratio of greater than 0.75and the lower limb body has a Poison's ratio of greater than 0.75
 3. Thebow of claim 1 further includes a bowstring extending between the upperlimb tip and the lower limb tip, the bowstring has a center portionintersecting the lateral axis, the bowstring is straight adjacent thecenter portion with the bow in an undrawn configuration, in a full drawnconfiguration the center portion is positioned along the lateral axisaway from the position of the center portion in the undrawnconfiguration.
 4. The bow of claim 3 wherein in the full drawnconfiguration the upper and lower limbs are flexed in a direction alongthe lateral axis in the bow plane away from the bow front side of thehandle, in the full drawn configuration the upper limb is in tensionalong the bow front side and the lower limb is in compression along thebow rear side.
 5. The bow of claim 3 wherein the upper limb bodyadjacent the upper handle portion at the bow front side is anticlasticin the full drawn configuration, and the lower limb body adjacent thelower handle portion at the bow front side is anticlastic in the fulldrawn configuration.
 6. The bow of claim 1 wherein the first and secondangles are between 20 and 27 degrees, and the third and fourth anglesare between 20 and 27 degrees.
 7. The bow of claim 1 wherein the firstand second angles are the same, and the third and fourth angles are thesame.
 8. The bow of claim 1 wherein the first, second, third and fourthangles are the same.
 9. A bow comprising: An elongate handle defining adefining a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, and a transverse axis, thelongitudinal axis and the lateral axis defining a bow plane, the handledefining a bow front side and an opposing bow rear side, the handlehaving an upper handle portion and a lower handle portion; an upper limbhaving an upper limb tip, an upper limb base and an upper limb bodydisposed between the upper limb tip and the upper limb base, the upperlimb extending from the handle with the upper limb base attached to theupper handle portion within the bow plane, the upper limb being formedof a laminated fiber-reinforced plastic material having first and secondsets of fiber sheets stacked in a direction along the lateral axis, thefirst set of fiber sheets having parallel fibers aligned at a firstangle from the longitudinal axis in a direction toward the transverseaxis on a first side of the bow plane, the second set of fiber sheetshaving parallel fibers aligned at a second angle from the longitudinalaxis in a direction toward the transverse axis on a second side of thebow plane, the upper limb body having a Poison's ratio of greater than0.75; and a lower limb having a lower limb tip, a lower limb base and alower limb body disposed between the lower limb tip and the lower limbbase, the lower limb extending from the handle opposite the upper limbwith the lower limb base attached to the lower handle portion within thebow plane, the lower limb being formed of a laminated fiber-reinforcedplastic material having third and fourth sets of fiber sheets stacked ina direction along the lateral axis, the third set of fiber sheets havingparallel fibers aligned at a third angle from the longitudinal axis in adirection toward the transverse axis on the first side of the bow plane,the fourth set of fiber sheets having parallel fibers aligned at afourth angle from the longitudinal axis in a direction toward thetransverse axis on the second side of the bow plane, the lower limb bodyhaving a Poison's ratio of greater than 0.75.
 10. The bow of claim 9wherein the first and second angles are between 16 and 44 degrees, andthe third and fourth angles are between 16 and 44 degrees.
 11. The bowof claim 9 further includes a bowstring extending between the upper limbtip and the lower limb tip, the bowstring has a center portionintersecting the lateral axis, the bowstring is straight adjacent thecenter portion with the bow in an undrawn configuration, in a full drawnconfiguration the center portion is positioned along the lateral axisaway from the position of the center portion in the undrawnconfiguration.
 12. The bow of claim 11 wherein in the full drawnconfiguration the upper and lower limbs are flexed in a direction alongthe lateral axis in the bow place away from the bow front side of thehandle, in the drawn configuration the upper limb is in tension alongthe bow front side and the lower limb is in compression along the bowrear side.
 13. The bow of claim 11 wherein the upper limb body adjacentthe upper handle portion at the bow front side is anticlastic in thefull drawn configuration, and the lower limb body adjacent the lowerhandle portion at the bow front side is anticlastic in the full drawnconfiguration.
 14. The bow of claim 9 wherein the first and secondangles are between 20 and 27 degrees, and the third and fourth anglesare between 20 and 27 degrees.
 15. The bow of claim 9 wherein the firstand second angles are the same, and the third and fourth angles are thesame.
 16. The bow of claim 9 wherein the first, second, third and fourthangles are the same.